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BI deports 98 Chinese with POGO links

Some residents have displayed signs protesting the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa, July 13, 2024. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported 98 Chinese nationals working in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) last Feb. 25, it reported on Wednesday.

“As part of our intensified campaign, we have successfully deported a total of 98 Chinese nationals who were caught working for an illegal POGO company,” Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said in a virtual briefing on Wednesday. “Last night, these individuals boarded a Philippine Airlines chartered flight to Xi’an, China.”

“This is part of a broader coordinated effort with the Chinese embassy to expedite the removal of foreign nationals engaged in illegal offshore gaming operations,” he added.

Out of the 98 Chinese, 91 were among the 450 apprehended during an operation in Parañaque City last January.

The immigration chief said they have arrested over 500 foreign nationals since January who were linked to illegal POGO activities in various operations across Parañaque, Pasay, and Cavite.

This latest deportation brings a total of 226 individuals sent back to their home countries.

“The Philippines will not be a safe haven for illegal activities. We are committed to enforcing our immigration laws and upholding national security,” he said.

Spokesperson Dana Krizia M. Sandoval, in the same virtual briefing, said the agency aims to arrest the remaining 11,000 illegal foreign POGO workers by mid-year.

“What we want — and for the majority of these cases — is to have them apprehended by mid-year,” she said in mixed English and Filipino. “We’re really targeting all of this within the year.”

In a statement, Beijing affirmed that this move marked further cooperation between the Philippines and China in combating illegal gambling activities.

“The Chinese government is committed to cracking down on gambling and relevant crimes and always asks overseas Chinese nationals strictly abide by local laws and regulations and do not engage in any illegal and criminal activities,” it added. 

“We urge the Philippines to completely eradicate the scourge inflicted by offshore gambling as soon as possible. China will continue to work with the Philippines to jointly combat crimes,” it said.

About 3,024 foreign POGO workers have been deported out of 30,144, data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) showed.

Meanwhile, a Senator said on Wednesday that the majority of foreign POGOs have remained in the country to supervise the changing of their operations to a smaller scale.

“Those POGO bosses, probably a lot of them, are still here. They haven’t come out yet. Because they are still overseeing the morphing of their POGO operations into smaller, guerrilla-like operations,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a news briefing on Wednesday.

Ms. Hontiveros added that POGO bosses have reportedly been using travel advertisements to entice individuals to their scam operations.

“Of course, it’s difficult to be completely POGO-free right away because they’ve been here for at least nine years or eight years since the Duterte era,” she added.

There used to be about 300 POGOs throughout the country during its peak in 2019, according to PAGCOR.

According to a Senate Committee report, illegal financial activities and scam hubs have persisted despite moves to outlaw POGOs in the country.

Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed an executive order, banning POGOs due to their links to organized crime, such as human trafficking. This is in line with his policy directives during his third State of the Nation Address to shut down POGOs by the end of 2024.

Ms. Hontiveros suggested that the BI should coordinate with counterpart immigration agencies to monitor the deportation of foreign POGO workers.

She added that these agencies should ensure that these foreign POGO workers “actually arrive at their destination and do not detour somewhere.”

Several lawmakers have already urged the BI and other concerned agencies to hasten the deportation of foreign nationals previously engaged with POGOs. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Adrian H. Halili

DoF clarifies PhilHealth fund use

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE LARGEST chunk of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) P60-billion excess funds remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) went to health and social service programs, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

This comes after the second round of oral arguments, questioning the legality of the controversial transfer of P89.9 billion in excess reserve funds from PhilHealth to the BTr.

“As a matter of fact, as of December of 2024, the total amount of P46 billion, thereabouts, more or less, had been devoted under the unprogrammed appropriations for social — more particularly, health projects,” Solicitor-General Menardo I. Guevarra said in a statement on Wednesday.

The DoF said the largest chunk P27.45 billion was used to settle the Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Health Care and Non-Healthcare Workers.

In addition, P10 billion was used for medical assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients, while P4.10 billion funded the procurement of medical equipment for the hospitals of the Department of Health (DoH), local government units, and primary care facilities.

The DoF added that P3.37 billion went to finance the construction of three DoH health facilities, while P1.69 billion was allocated to the Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

“The rest, or about P13 billion, was used to fund government counterpart financing for foreign-assisted infrastructure and ‘social determinants for health’ project,” it said.

Among the projects under the unprogrammed appropriations for government counterpart financing are the Metro Manila Subway Project, the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project, the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project and the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project.

As of last year, the DoF said PhilHealth’s P498 billion is more than enough to continue increasing its inpatient, outpatient, and special benefit packages. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Case disqualifying Rep. Tulfo filed

ERWIN T. TULFO — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo is facing another disqualification complaint over his libel case, his citizenship, and for the violation of the political dynasty provision of the 1987 Constitution.

In a pleading filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, petitioners Berteni C. Causing and Graft-Free Philippines Foundation, Inc., alleged Mr. Tulfo is still suffering from the 20-year disqualification caused by the moral turpitude in four counts of libel.

“He is disqualified from running for Senator in the May 12, 2025, elections because he was convicted of four (4) counts of libel that became final after these were affirmed by the Supreme Court,” the 28-paged complaint read, noting the lawmaker’s libel lawsuit in 2008.

It also alleged Mr. Tulfo should be disqualified as he is not a Filipino citizen but an American one.

“Erwin claimed he did not renounce his US citizenship because he claimed he was not considered a US citizen by the US Embassy officials when he surrendered his US passport that he had been using under the name Erich Sylvester Tulfo,” it read.

“In other words, he admitted he was holding a US citizenship under the name Erich Sylvester Tulfo since 1991,” it noted.

They also accused the lawmaker of violating the political dynasty prohibition of the 1987 Constitution as his other brother is an incumbent senator, while one is also running for a senatorial post.

Mr. Tulfo said they have not yet received a copy of the complaint.

“But as part of the justice process in our country, I am ready to answer the complaint filed by Causing, who is a lawyer at the Supreme Court disbarred and Comelec declared as a nuisance candidate in the 2025 senatorial election,” he said in mixed English and Filipino in a statement.

“I will respect his right to file a complaint and leave the Comelec to judge,” he added.

The lawmaker and his brothers faced his first disqualification complaint last week, citing violations of anti-dynasty provisions. 

Mr. Tulfo and his brother, Bienvenido, are the leading contenders in the 2025 Senatorial race, according to surveys by the Social Weather Station. They are ranked first and fourth, respectively.

Up for grabs in the May 12 elections are 317 congressional seats and thousands of local posts. The biggest battle will be for 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a chamber packed with political heavyweights and wielding outsized influence. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

4Ps, Duterte Youth lead SWS polls

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

A FEBRUARY commissioned survey for the party-list congressional race by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that party-list groups Pagtibayin at Palaguin and Pangkabuhayang Pilipino (4Ps), Duterte Youth, FPJ Panday Bayanihan, and ACT-CIS emerged as the most preferred groups of Filipino voters.

Party-list 4Ps continued to lead the SWS survey but showed that support for the group declined to 9.61% from 11.8% in January. Duterte Youth retained its second-place ranking as support increased to 8.28% from 6.05%.

“These results show that 4Ps and Duterte Youth are the only two party-list groups projected to win three guaranteed seats in the House of Representatives, as of February 2025,” the pollster said in a statement.

Group FPJ Panday Bayanihan climbed to third place in February from seventh last month, with preference growing to 4.76% from 2.45%. ACT-CIS inched down to fourth after support declined to 4.46% from 5.41% in January.

“Both FPJ Panday Bayanihan and ACT-CIS are on track to secure two seats, having met the 4% threshold for additional representation,” SWS said.

SWS interviewed 1,800 registered voters nationwide from February 15 to 19 with a ±2.31% margin of error. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Ilocos Norte gets P3.5-M grant

Ilocos Norte gets P3.5-M grant — EMBASSY OF JAPAN IN THE PHILIPPINES FACEBOOK PAGE

THE EMBASSY of Japan in Manila on Wednesday said that it has issued a grant worth P3.5 million ($60,711) to Ilocos Norte province for its disaster relief efforts.

In a statement, Tokyo said the grant would allow the local government of Ilocos Norte to purchase rescue boats for their disaster response activities and be funded by the Japanese government’s Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP).

The embassy said that the project would “enhance the safety and security of the residents of Laoag City and its surrounding municipalities.”

It said that the fund would allow the provincial government to procure two rescue boats and strengthen the province’s disaster preparedness and rescue system in the event of flooding.

“As the top official development assistance (ODA) donor for the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities,” it added.

The Philippines obtained $5.67 billion worth of ODA funding in 2024, according to the Department of Finance.

The Japanese Embassy said that they have funded and implemented a total of 567 grassroots projects under the GGP scheme.

“Japan believes that these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries,” it said. — Adrian H. Halili

DBM releases rules on gov’t office creation in Negros Island

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has issued guidelines on setting up offices in planned sectors, workforce, and allocating funds for the operation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).

According to circular letter 2025-3, the daily operations and infrastructure costs of the NIR offices will be sourced from existing budgets of the concerned departments in Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

This circular was issued after the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 12000 or NIR Act.

Under Section 4 of the Act, Negros Occidental will install government offices related to agriculture, land, peace and order, security, and governance.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental will host offices focused on human development, infrastructure, and industry and labor.

“With the NIR Act designed to speed up public service delivery in the local community, the DBM ensures its success by providing clear guidelines on how offices should be organized and operated effectively,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Bill wants full coverage of doctor’s fees

A BILL mandating the Department of Health’s (DoH) indigent medical aid program to cover the doctor’s fees within its healthcare package was filed at the House of Representatives on Feb. 4.

House Bill No. 11415, filed by Party-list Representative Jose J. Teves, Jr., aims to cover the full professional fees of doctors from both private and public hospitals and clinics for medical services.

“This measure seeks to mandate the inclusion of professional or doctor’s fees, without any limitation to the approved amount… to help attain the ‘zero billing’ goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” the bill’s introductory note stated.

The DoH’s so-called Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program provides indigent patients with financial aid to pay off their medical bills.

It currently covers medicines, bloodwork, laboratory procedures, and all hospital bills of indigent Filipinos, but caps the coverage for professional fees at 50% of the “approved amount of medical assistance,” according to a DoH administrative order.

“Many indigents and financially incapacitated Filipinos still carry the burden of paying excessive hospital bills notwithstanding the payment of professional or doctor’s fees,” the bill stated.

All doctors are required to accept guarantee letters from DoH’s MAIFIP. Refusal could lead to a P100,000 fine for the first offense and could result in the revocation of a medical license for repeat offenses. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Strawberry supply in Benguet assured

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET — The country’s strawberry capital — La Trinidad, Benguet — is assuring there is enough supply of this much-sought fruit grown abundantly here.

According to the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO), “supply is enough even with the influx of tourists” as the capital celebrates the Strawberry Festival, starting March 3.

This year is themed “Semek La Trinidad” (Love La Trinidad) where strawberry and its by-products will be its main features.

The rich cultural heritage of the different ethnolinguistic groups like the Kankanaeys, Ibaloys, Kalanguyas, among others, will be showcased at the festival’s drum and lyre street dancing performance and street parade on March 22.

La Trinidad Municipal Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan said their festival entices and encourages cooperation, partnership, and collaboration with the community. “As a symbol, the strawberry is like the Municipality of La Trinidad, the seeds symbolize the people and the color red symbolizes the love that we have,” he explained.

La Trinidad Mayor Romeo K. Salda said they have allotted a total of P5.7 million for 24 events, 18 traditional activities, and six community-led occasions. — Artemio A. Dumlao

AdU made short work of UE in UAAP S87 volleyball

SHAINA NITURA — UAAP

Games on Saturday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. – UST vs AdU (Men’s)
12 p.m. – NU vs UE (Men’s)
2 p.m. – UST vs AdU (Women’s)
4 p.m. – NU vs UE (Women’s)

SUPER ROOKIE Shaina Nitura flashed her brilliance anew as Adamson University (AdU) made short work of the listless University (UE) of the East, 25-20, 25-15, 25-12, for a quick rebound in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Ms. Nitura, the former juniors MVP, delivered 18 points on 16 hits, a block and an ace along with 11 digs as the soaring Falcons gained a piece of the second spot at 2-1 with idle University of the Philippines.

The Lady Falcons needed only 72 minutes to score the straight-set romp with Ms. Nitura registering her third straight double-digit game for an early Rookie of the Year and MVP campaign bid.

In a smooth collegiate transition so far since anchoring Adamson’s first UAAP girls’ volleyball title last year via a 14-0 sweep, Ms. Nitura first reset the UAAP rookie record with 33 points in a comeback debut win against Ateneo before firing 16 in a 3-0 defeat to De La Salle University.

Backstopping her this time were Frances Mordi and May Ann Nuique with 11 and nine points, respectively. Juris Anne Clare Manuel provided 13 digs while playmaker Felicity Sagaysay manufactured 15 sets laced by two points.

Ranged against the winless Lady Warriors, the Lady Falcons encountered a little challenge in the first set but proved too much to handle in the next two frames, where they blitzed to quick double-digit leads heading home.

Nessa Bangayan (11) and KC Cepada (10) paced the Lady Warriors, who tripped to their third straight loss ahead of a tough assignment against reigning champion and unbeaten National University (3-0), also on Saturday.

In the men’s division, Adamson (1-2) notched its first win against UE (0-3), 27-29, 25-23, 25-20, 25-17, while the University of Santo Tomas (2-1) – even without injured MVP Josh Ybañez – stunned La Salle (1-2), 25-21, 25-20, 25-16. — John Bryan Ulanday

De Luna, Centeno and Amit advance in 2025 Las Vegas 10-Ball Open

JEFF DE LUNA — FACEBOOK.COM/PROBILLIARDSERIES

THE Philippines’ Jeff de Luna turned back countryman Roberto Gomez , 4-3, 4-1, 4-0, on Tuesday night to barge into the semifinals of the 2025 Las Vegas 10-Ball Open at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Nevada.

The 41-year-old former Asian Games silver medalist was on point in hurdling Mr. Gomez to claim the victory that set the former up against Estonian Denis Grabe, who smashed German Stefan Kasper, 4-2, 4-2, 4-2.

Another victory would push Mr. De Luna closer to earning a crack at the crown in this $125,000 meet.

The other semis pairing would pit German Jacob Fuller, a 4-0, 1-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-3 winner over Dutch Marco Teutscher, and the winner between Greek Alex Kazakis and Pole Wojciech Szewczyk.

Meanwhile, Filipinos Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit trounced Americans Nicolle Cuellar, 4-0, 4-0, and Ada Lio, 4-2, 4-0, respectively, to set in motion their title campaigns in the women’s section.

Ms. Centeno, the defending champion here, was facing April Larson, who bested the US’ Sue Orr, 4-2, 3-4, 4-1, while Ms. Amit was tackling yet another American Briana Edwards, who edged the US’ Eva Myers, 4-1, 1-4, 4-1. — Joey Villar

Cool Smashers, HD Spikers lead first cracks at PVL All-Filipino Conference playoffs

Games on Thursday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. – Galeries vs Cignal
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Nxled

FOUR TEAMS, headed by heavy favorites Creamline and Cignal, get the first cracks at quarterfinal berths in Thursday’s start of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

The Cool Smashers, who topped the prelims with a 9-1 record, should be locked and loaded when they battle the Nxled Chameleons, who were last with a 1-10 mark, in their one-game qualification round duel at 6:30 p.m.

Same with the HD Spikers, the No. 3 squad with an 8-3 card who square off with the Galeries Tower Highrisers, who wound up 10th with a 1-10 slate, at 4 p.m.

The winners will advance straight to the best-of-three quarters unfurling March 15 at the same Pasig venue.

The losers, in contrast, will fall in the two-bracket play-in wherein the eventual top teams in each of the three-team groups will book the last tickets to the quarters.

“If we stay with our game plan, we have a strong chance,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, who is hoping to steer the franchise to a 17th straight podium finish, a five-peat feat and an 11th title — all league records.

For Cignal mentor Shaq delos Santos, it will be all about making do with what they have after losing vital cogs Ces Molina and Riri Meneses mid-season.

“Even we have just 12 players, we have been managing with maximizing the skills of each and everyone and then we get to train faster also,” said Mr. Delos Santos.

Rose Doria and Vanie Gandler have mostly taken the leadership role while rookie sensation Ishie Lalongisip as well as Judith Abil have been stepping up big as of late in helping fill that massive void up front.

“Coach will need my help inside the court, that’s why I’m trying to help in whatever way I can,” said Ms. Doria. — Joey Villar

Letran, UPHSD gun for second straight win in NCAA volleyball

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

COLEGIO de San Juan de Letran and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) shoot for a second straight victory as they battle Mapua University and Jose Rizal University, respectively, on Thursday in NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball at the San Beda Gym.

Led by a diamond in the rough in Sheena Vanessa Sarie, the Lady Knights downed the Lady Bombers, 28-26, 25-22, 11-25, 25-22, on Friday to set in motion their bid of eclipsing their runner-up finish a season ago and a win in their 11 a.m. duel with the Lady Cardinals would keep them at the helm.

Expect Letran to go to Ms. Sarie anew after the tall, crisp-spiking middle blocker from Naga Colleges, Camarines Sur had an auspicious debut after dropping a match-best 22-point effort.

The Lady Altas will also be aiming to stay unbeaten and on top after they turned back the San Beda Red Spikers, 25-18, 28-26, 25-16, on Saturday in their 1 p.m. match with the Lady Cardinals.

Both JRU and Mapua, which succumbed to San Sebastian on Friday, will be gunning for nothing less than a win. — Joey Villar

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